One remembers when the Afghan war was in full gear, every other day the US embassy in Islamabad or White House spokesman in Washington used to issue ‘the travel advisory’ for Americans “don’t visit Pakistan”, “restrict your movement to the embassy or consulates”, “leave Pakistan immediately”, etc. But since the US invasion of Afghanistan, there had hardly been issued such a travel advisory despite thousands of incidents of terror have occurred so far. Why is it so when hatred for the Americans is at its peak both in Afghanistan and Pakistan?
Why is it so when Americans drones are killing innocent Pakistanis and America is the declared enemy of Taliban and Al-Qaeda?
One also wonders why at a time when the Taliban-Al-Qaeda’s No 1 enemy, America, is all out to get them killed by use of its front-line allied country, Pakistan, and by all other ‘means’, not only the American staff in the US embassy has risen to thousands but also the US diplomats and citizens have a license to frequently visit ‘dangerous’ public places. Mushroom American franchises are being opened across the country without any scrutiny.
The answer came through the four TTP ‘terrorists’ who got killed when they staged an ambush against a Pakistan army convoy in Matta and the biggest surprise was not that their beards were fake under the turbaned black veils, but the burgers and cold drinks. Taliban, the army of illiterate, ignorant barbarians and such a soft taste!
We are in fact grossly mistaken by calling them Taliban, a name given by the Americans. Something is certainly mysterious about them. It is our great dilemma if we are not aware of the ‘friends’ in disguise.
ESCHMALL SARDAR
Peshawar
